Stocking package and method



July 30, 1963 J. c. BERRY 3,099,353

STOCKING PACKAGE AND METHOD Filed NOV. 9, 1956 INVENTOR doH/v C. BERRY fBY iZOWHA Q M AGENTS United States Patent Office Patented July 30., 19633,tl99,353 ST QCKIING PACKAGE AND METHUD .lohn C. Berry, Durham, N.C.,assignor to Berry Brothers Corporation, Greensboro, N.C., a corporationof North Carolina Filed Nov. 9, 1956, Ser. No. 621,335 3 Claims. (Cl.206-79) The present invention relates to a stocking package, and moreparticularly to an improved form of stocking package and method formaking same.

In my prior US. Patents No. 2,696,295, issued December 7, 1954, and No.2,742,149, issued April 17, 1956, a wide variety of stocking packagesare disclosed and claimed in which two stockings are placed inenveloping relationship over a cardboard or similar insert in a flat,slightly tens-ioned state to produce a neat, compact, and attractivestocking package. This type of two on one package has virtuallyrevolutionized the marketing of stockings and has received widespreadcommercial acceptance by virtually the entire hosiery industry. Thepresent invention constitutes an improvement over the packages of myprior patents in that it not only possesses all of the advantages of theprior two on one stocking packages, but in addition possesses additionaldesirable characteristics, particularly when packaging certain types ofstockings.

In packaging cotton stockings, and particularly thick cotton stockings,problems of insert distortion, unbalancing of the stocking package witha corresponding detraction from the appearance of the package, anddisplay problems as a result of the increased width of the package areoftentimes encountered when packaging in accordance with my priorpatents which are completely eliminated with the present invention. Inaddition, with the new and improved package of the present invention, itis possible for a purchaser to better examine the stockings,particularly as to quality and feel, thereby tending to prevent inferiorgoods being passed off as quality merchandise. In addition, thestockings of pastel shade reflect their true color somewhat better whenpackaged in accordance with the present invention, and consequently willbe more attractive to the customer.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide anew and improved :Eorm of stocking package having all of the advantagesof my prior patents as well as additional desirable characteristics.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a stockingpackage that will possess considerable customer appeal.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a stockingpackage in which the package will possess no distortion.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of astocking package which will be perfectly balanced in appearance.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of astocking package which will be of a width suffioient to display same inexisting display equipment.

An additional object of the present invention is the provision of a newand improved stocking package for use with cotton stockings.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of astocking package which will permit the customer to actually feel thefabric of the stocking in its wearing state.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of astocking package which will properly present all forms of stockings inall shades and the like in a pleasing and attractive manner.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of astocking package utilizing cufied stockings.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of astocking package utilizing a new and improved insert.

Another object of the present invention is a new and improved method forforming a stocking package.

Other and additional objects will become manifest from the ensuingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Broadly stated, the stocking package of the present invention comprisesa flat insert, a first stocking in a flat, slightly tensionedrelationship with one face of the insert, and a second mating sockenveloping said first sock and said insert in a flat, slightly tensionedstate.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the presentinvention then consists of the means hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawing and thefollowing description setting forth in detail certain means in thecarrying out of the invention, such disclosed means illustrating,however, but one of various ways in which the principle of the inventionmay be employed.

The present invention is illustrated, by way of example, in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an insert to be utilized in forming astocking package made in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the position of a first stocking on theinsert shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view illustrating the enveloping of a secondstocking on the insert and first stocking shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the stocking package shown in FIG. 3 inwhich the stocking package is folded upon itself and the cuffs thereofare folded upon themselves to retain the stocking package in a foldedstate.

Reference is now to he had to FIGS. l4 wherein a stocking package madein accordance with the present invention and generally designated byreference numeral 52 is illustrated. This form of stocking package is.concerned primarily with stockings having a heavy cuff which is, whenworn, folded over, down over a portion of the stocking. Such stockingsare primarily worn by children and young ladies.

The stocking package 52 includes an insert 53 which may be made from thesame material described in my US. Patent No. 2,696,295, issued December7, 1954. Similarly, the dimensions. and configuration of the insert 53may be of any suitable configuration, i.e., with a heel, without a heel,substantially stnaight or angled, etc. However, the illustrativeembodiment of the insert 53 shown in somewhat different, and ispanticularly adaptable for smaller size childrens stockings. The insert53, as shown, is provided with a slightly outwardly curved forward orleading edge 54 and a slightly outwardly curved trailing edge 55. Therespective lower ends of the leading and trailing edges 54 and 55 areuni-ted to one another by a curved toe portion 56 and the opposite endsby a top edge portion 57. T his construction results in an insert beingsomewhat elliptical in configuration. The insert 53 is provided with atransversely extending fold or score line 58 to enable the folding ofthe formed stocking package upon itself.

A first or inner stocking 59 having a cuff portion 60 is positioned in aflat, tensioned state on one face of the insert 53, with the cuffportion 60 of the stocking 59 lying beyond the top edge 57 of the insert53 and in nonengagernent therewith. It is to be noted that the heelportion of the stocking 59 lies on the flat side of the insert 53. Thesecond or outer stocking 61 having a cuff portion 62 envelopes theinsert 53 and the first stocking 59 in a fiat, tensiorned state with thecuff portion 62 thereof extending beyond the top edge 57 of the insertin enveloping relation-ship with the cuff portion 60 of the firststocking 59, as shown in FIG. 3. The stocking package 53 is folded uponitself along the fold line 58 of the insert, and the cuif portions 60and 62 are then folded back as a unit overthe folded package as a unit,with the cuff portion 69 of the first stocking 59 lying on the outside.This results in cuff portions 60 and 62 enveloping the toe portion andtop portion of the insert as shown in FIG. 4, thereby positivelyretaining the stocking package 52 in a folded state. If desired, a band63 may be applied to the bottom of the stocking package 52.

The hereinbefore described forms of stocking packages, each of which ismade in accordance with my present invention, may be assembled in anydesired manner. The description of each form hereinbefore given has beenprimarily to associate the respective parts of the package when in acompleted state. A new and novel method forming a part of the presentinvention may be employed in formulating any of the forms of stockingpackages herein'beiore described. In the new method the first or innerstocking is placed in a flat, highly tensioned or otherwise stretchedstate that is greater in width than the width of the insert. The secondor outer stocking is placed in [a flat, highly tensioned state and inenveloping relationship with respect to the first stocking. Thecardboard insert is then inserted between the outer stocking and oneside or face of the inner stocking until the top portion of 1e insert isin substantial registry with the top edge of the stockings. Each of thestockings is then relaxed, resulting in the stockings engaging theinsert in a flat, slightly tensioned or stretched state to produce thedesired package. The package may then be folded with the face againstwhich the first stocking rests being on the inside, and the band andrider applied thereto, if desired.

In packaging the form of the invention shown in 'FIGS. 1-4, the insertwill be positioned Within the stockings such that the top or cuffportion will be Well within the cult portion of thestockings. Thus whenthe stockings are relaxed, at least half of the unit portions thereofwill not .be in engagement with the insert. The stocking package is thenfolded, bringing the toe portion and the top edge portion in alignment.The cuif portions of the stockings not in engagement with the insert arethen reversely turned back over the insert to envelop the toe portionandtop portion, thereby positively insuring the retention of the formedpackage in a folded state.

In a modification of the new method, it will he found advantageous withcertain goods to stretch the outer stocking when in envelopingrelationship so that its width will be greater than that of the firststocking. The insert may then be positioned between the inner and outerstocking more easily.

As hereinbefore indicated, the stocking packages of the presentinvention may be formulated in any desired manner, although thepreferred is the method hereinbefore described. Similarly, any suitablepackaging machine may be employed. A particular and preferred one isthat disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,971,302, issued February 14, 1961, toJohn C. Berry and George W. Newton.

By the term stocking as used herein and in the appended claims, it isused to define mens, Womens, and childrens socks and stockings of thetype known as ankle socks, as well as part Way up on the calf of thewearer, such as Argyles. While the present invention isof particularutility 'with cotton goods, it is to be clearly under stood that stretchyarn stockings and combination cotton and stretch yam stockings can bepackaged equally as well.

While there have been described herein What are at present consideredpreferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art, that modifications and changes may be made thereinwithout departing from the essence of the invention. it is therefore tobe understood that the exemplary embodiments are illustrative and notrestrictive of the invention, the scope of which i defined in theappended claims, and that all modifications that come within the meaningand range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be includedtherein.

I claim:

1. A stocking package comprising a flat, substantially stiif insert ofsheet material, said insert having a transversely extending fold linetherein, a first sock having a cuff portion therewith in engagement withone face of said insert, a second stocking having ta cuff portiontherewith enveloping said insert and said first stocking in a flat,slightly tensioned state, said package folded upon itself and the cultportion reversely folded in encircling relationship about said packageto retain same in a folded state.

'2. A sock display package comprising an insert formed of flat stilt butbendable material and having a configuration resembling that of a footand ankle in vertically extended position, a pair of socks including aninner sock and an outer sock each having a toe portion and a cuff, theouter sock being drawn on said insert and carried thereby in a fiatslightly tensioned state, the toe portion of the outer sock engaging oneend edge of the insert and the cuffs of the socks extending beyond theother end edge of the insert, the insert and socks being folded uponthemselves to bring the end edges of the insert adjacent each other withthe cuffs of the socks extending beyond said end edges of the insert,and said culfs being folded downwardly upon themselves to envelop thetoe of the outer sock and the adjacent portions of the legs of the socksand hold them together in folded condition to form a display package.

3. A sock display package comprising an insert formed of flat stiif butbendable material and having a configuration resembling that of a footand ankle in vertically extended position, a pair of socks including aninner sock and an outer sock each having a toe portion and a cuff, theouter sock being drawn on said insert and carried thereby in a flatslightly tensioned state, the toe portion of the outer sock beingadjacent one end edge of the insert and the cuifs of the socks extendingbeyond the other end edge of the insert, the insert and socks beingfolded upon themselves to bring the end edges of the insert adjacenteach other with the cults of the socks extending beyond said end edgesof the insert, and said cults being folded downwardly upon themselves toenvelop the toe of the outer sock and the adjacent portions of the legsof the socks and hold them together in folded condition to form adisplay package.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,332,368 Wadsworth Mar. 2, 1920 2,007,621 Struve July 9, 1935 2,573,827Bigelow Nov. 6, 1951 2,624,989 White Jan. 13, 1953 2,696,295 Berry Dec.7, 1954 2,742,149 Berry Apr. 17, 1956 2,748,930 Power et a1 June 5, 19562,755,924 Tuttle July 24, 1956 2,816,653 Jacobi Dec. 17, 1957 2,989,178Parker June 20, 1961 3,044,617 Verlin July 17, 19612 FOREIGN PATENTS644,296 Germany Apr. 28, 1937

1. A STOCKING PACKAGE COMPRISING A FLAT, SUBSTANTIALLY STIFF INSERT OFSHEET MATERIAL, SAID INSERT HAVING A TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING FOLD LINETHEREIN, A FIRST SOCK HAVING A CUFF PORTION THEREWITH IN ENGAGEMENT WITHONE FACE OF SAID INSERT, A SECOND STOCKING HAVING A CUFF PORTIONTHEREWITH ENVELOPING SAID INSERT AND SAID FIRST STOCKING IN A FLAT,SLIGHTLY TENSIONED STATE, SAID PACKAGE FOLDED UPON ITSELF AND THE CUFFPORTION REVERSELY FOLDED IN ENCIRCLING RELATIONSHIP ABOUT SAID PACKAGETO RETAIN SAME IN A FOLDED STATE.